Improvement in dipping-frames for the manufacture of matches



D.- HELM'ER. Dipping Frame for the. Mariufajcture of. Matches.

N. PETERS, Phokn-Lilhogrphar, Wa hl c.

N 41,918"; Patented March 15, 1864 ita] STATES PATE T caml)A RW'lNHELMER, OF MOHAWK, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN DIPPING-FRAMES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 L918, dated March 15,1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DARWIN HELMER, of Mohawk, in the county of Herkimerand State of New York, have invented a new and useful improvement in theslats forming parts of the dipping-frames. used in the manufacture offriction-matches; and I-do hereby declare that the following is a clear,full, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming ,part ofthisfspecification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part ofan unimproved slat introduced for comparison. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of a part of an improved slat, enough being shown to illustratethis invention. Fig. 3 is an end view or section of Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference on the several figures refer to similarparts.

The character of my invention consists in so forming the several slatsthat form parts of the dipping-frames used in the manufacture of matchesthat the operation of placing the blank match-sticks therein may be morerapidly and effectually performed, and that when the blank match-sticksare in place and the dipping-frame keyed up or tightened, thematch-sticks are not liable to drop outso as to embarrass the succeedingoperation of dipping and cause waste of materials.

As usually made, the dipping-frame is a rectangular wooden frame ofdimensions suitable for easy manipulationsay from fifteen to eighteeninches square-adapted to rcceive a number of wooden slats, like Fig. 1,one above another. On the lower surface of each slat is a strip of feltor other equivalent elastic material. (Not showninthedrawings.) Ontheupper surface are a number of transverse grooves, a a a, Fig. 1, ofsuitable width to receive match-sticks, and placed at suitable equaldistances apart. The depth of the grooves a cm is considerably less thanthe diameter of the match-sticks to be placed therein.

The shallowness of the grooves is an objectionable feature, as itinterferes somewhat with the operation of filling the slats with blankmatch-sticks, but is a necessity so long as the felt or its equivalentis retained on the lower surface of the slat for the purpose ofdistributing pressure to the matchsticks when the frame is filled andkeyed up.

The felt or its equivalent is also an objectionable feature, as in thecourse of time it loses its elasticity and becomes indented so that ifthe blank match-sticks vary in size (as they almost invariably do) thesmaller ones drop out of the frame in the process of dipping, and are asource of loss by embarrassing the operation of dipping and by causingwaste of materials.

The improved slat (see Fig. 2) which is the subject of this invention,and which is designed to obviate the objectionable features in theunimproved slat, is, like its predecessor, made of hard wood. Thetransverse grooves a a a, Fig. 2, in its upper surface are cut the fulldiameter of the match-sticks in depth, thereby faciliting the operationof filling the grooves in the upper surface of the slut with blankmatch-sticks, which operation is per-.

formed by sliding a smallbundle of the matchsticks along the surface ofthe slat, so as to have them fall into the transverse grooves a a a. Thegreater depth of the grooves in the improved slat gives them a betterhold on the match-sticks, so that the sticks do not slip or get pushedout of the grooves by the pressure of the advancing bundle of sticksalong the surface of the slat.

Along the length of the slat, and on its upper surface, channels I) bare out, about half as deep as the transverse grooves a a a, and about aquarter of an inch in width. For greater convenience and utility,theyare placed one on each margin of the slat, as shown at b b, Fig. 2. Onthe lower surface of the slat are corresponding longitudinal elevations,as

shown in section at o c, Fig. 3, not quite as wide as the longitudinalchannels on the upper surface. These longitudinal elevations of theslats come in contact with the matchsticks immediately below them, wherethey are partially exposed along the longitudinal channels when thedipping-frame is filled with slats and match-sticks, and obviate thenecessity of using felt or its equival But on the under surface of theslat.

Operation The im1'r)ved slat is Placed in the dippin g-frame andfilledwith blank matchsticks in the same manner as before this improvement wasmade. The frame is keyed up 1n the same manner.

a narrow surface, sink into the soft matchsticks when the dipping-frameis keyed up, and efl'ectually hold them without liability todisplacement in the subsequent operations performed on the inaichstickswhile retained in the dipping frames.

I claim- 1. The longitudinal channels b b, Fig. 2, on the upper surfaceof the slats, (without restriction as to the number and location of saidchannels on the upper surface of the slat,) when the said longitudinalchannels are used in connection with corresponding longitudinalelevations on the lower surfaces of contiguous slats, in the manner andfor the purpose substantially as set forth.

2. The lon itiuliual elevations 0 Fl 3 The longitudinal eleventions onthe under surface of the slat, having (whether formed as part of theslat orby additions thereto,) on the under surface of the slats, whensaid longitudinal elevations are used in connection with correspondinglongitudinal channels on the upper surface of contiguous slats, in themanner and for the purpose substantially as set forth i 3. The improvedslat, formed by the combination of the longitudinal elevations on itsunder side with corresponding longitudinal channels on its upper side,and the deepened transverse grooves for the reception of blankmatch-sticks or its equivalent, when used in the manner and for thepurpose substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

DARWIN IJELMER. Witnesses:

1 JAMES LEWIS, O. E. MYERS.

